Foldable bath-tub



MUM w fix E. VOLTERS.

FOLDABLE BATH TUB. 4 A PLICATION FILED JULY 31.1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I l ,307,942. I PatentedJ'une 24,1919.

W/ r/vessEs abhor/140% .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD VOL'IERS, on ST. Louis, MISSOURI.

FOLDAIBLE BATH-TUB.

To all whom it malt) concern: Be it known that I, EDWARD Vorzrnns a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of StLLouis City and State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Foldable Bath-Tubs, of which. the following is a specification,

This invention relates to folding bath tubs, and more particularly to those having collapsible frames.

The object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive bathing apparatus adapted for use in bed rooms without bath fixtures or in camps where it will be useful for enginee s'sgldiers, surveyors, miners and others.

Another object is to so construct a tub of this character which when collapsed will occupy a minimum amount of space and be comparatively light for transportation and when opened up will be strong and efficient for use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de-' scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made Within the scope of whatis claimed without In the embodiment illustrated, the collapsible form of the tub. constituting this invention comprises two side bars 1, and

endbars 2 connected at the corners by L- shaped connectors 3. Each side bar 1 is composed of two sections 4 and 5 pivotally connected at their inner ends .and at their outer ends offset outward and pivoted to one arm by the connector 3, the other arm of said connector being pivotally. connected Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1919.

Application filed July 31, 1918. Serial No. 247,621.

bars 2 are also composed of two sections '6 and 7 piv'otally connected. at their inner ends, one of sa d sections having a laterally extending lug 8 on its lower edge whichpro ects,beyond the pivotal connection with the adjacent sections and forms a stop or rest for the sections when in open operative position to prevent collapse of the-. =frame. This collapsible frame, the end and side members of which are of a lazy tong construction has its side bars supported by pivotally connected links or bars 8 and 9, two

pairs 'of which are here shown intersecting each other midway their ends and pivotally connected as shownat 10. The inner ends of the bars 9 of each pair are-pivotally connected as shown at 11, while the inner ends of bars 8 are pivotally connected as shown at 12 and one of said bars'has a laterally ,extending finger 13 which is adapted to project over the pivotal connection of the sections at and 5 of each ofthe side bars 1 to limit theupward movement of said side bars and to prevent downward movement of the connected bars 8 when in operative position. These lugs 13 are apertured as shown at 14: to receive ties or leshes 15 which are designed to connect the side bars-with the toggle jointstr'ucture of the side frames and also a water containing receptacle hereinafterto be described.

The upper ends of the bars 9 are pivotally connected to the angle bars or L-shaped members 3 between said members and the ends of the sections 4 and 5 of the side bars as ris shown clearly in Fig. ,4. The lower ends of p the bars 8 are pivotally-connected with L- shaped connectors 16 similar in construction to those 3 which are used at the upper corners of the frame. These L-shaped connectors 'lfi'are also pivotally connected with the lower ends of a-pair of crossbars17 and 18 which are arranged at the ends of the tub as is shown clearly in Fig. 1. These bars 17 and 18 intersect each other midway their length and are pivotally connected as shown at'19, while theirupper ends are pivoted to the connectors 3 between said connectors and hers 2. z

the end sections 6 and of the end mem- From the above description it will be ob-.

vious that by bending the sections 4 downwardly at their. pivotally connected ends and similarly bendin the end sections 6 and 7, theframe which is of a togglejoint lazy tong with one end of the we bars 2. These and structure will fold upwardly Into a very round and retain the water receptacle now to face, and may be used in the ordinary be described, although it need not necessarily be used in this connection. j

The body of the tub or the water receptacle consists'of a rectangular sheet 20 of any suitable waterproof fabric, the edges of said sheet being reinforced as shown at 21 and provided with circular metal eyelets 22 which are so arranged that when cords or ties 23 are placed therein the sheet will be folded into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and when, these ties 23 are threaded through the eyelets and passed around the frame with the bottom thereof resting on the supporting surmanner of a bath tub.

When not in use or desired for transporta tion, the water container is detached from the frame by loosening the ties 23 and it may be rolled up into a small space and the frame collapsed either around the container or not, so that it may be packed in a small space for transportation or storage and when desired may be readily set up for use with a mini mum amount of labor.

Th frame which constitutes a part of this invention may be composed of any suitable metal preferably of aluminum to render it as lightas possible and yet strong.

Owing to the fact that the bottom of the tub rests on-the floor when in use, there will be very little strain upon the frame so that the strips or bars from which it is constructed may be quite light and yet support the tub in operative position.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred or approved form of m invention. It is to be understood that may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient'and fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A collapsible bath tub comprising a tion, and a foldable flexible frame composed of two sets of L-shaped corner members for the upper and lower corners of the tub, sectional end and side bars,

and lower corner members, means for holding said structures in open operative posicontainer supported by said frame.

2. A collapsible bath tub comprising a frame composed of two sets of L-shaped corner members for the upper and lower corners of the tub, sectional side and end. bars pivoted to the arms of the upper corner members, lazy tong structures forming side and end members connecting the upper and .lower corner members, the side members having laterally extending fingers at their upper ends, the sections of the side bars being pivotally connected and engaged at their pivotal connection by said fingerswhereby the frame is held in extended operative position, and a foldable flexible container secured to said side bars.

3. A collapsible bath tub comprising a frame composed of two sets of L-shaped corner members for the upper and lower corners of'the tub, sectional side and end bars pivoted to the arms of the upper corner members, lazy tong structures forming side and end members connecting the upper and lower corner members, the side members having laterally extending fingersat their upper ends, the sections of the side bars being pivotally connected and engaged at their pivotal connection by said fingers whereby the frame is held in extended operative position, and ties xtending around said side and end members, and a flexible container also engaged by said ties whereby the frame and the container are held in open operative position.

h In testimony whereof I affix my signature 7 in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD VOLTERS.

' Witnesses:

BERNARD A. HACKER, CHAS. J. BECKER. 

